Of all the maladies that befall human beings, alcoholism is one of the most insidious.

In 1970, the U.S. government established the National Institute on Alcoholism. The NIAAA publishes new data on alcohol abuse, alcohol-related deaths and other important statistics each year. According to the NIAAA, over 14 million Americans are addicted to alcohol.

An alcoholic is a person who craves alcohol. Alcoholism is an illness. If a person craves alcohol and cannot stop drinking, they are probably experiencing alcohol addiction.

The Consequences of Alcoholic Drinking

The physical and mental consequences of alcoholism are legion and can include liver disease, pancreatitis, alcoholic dementia, fetal alcohol syndrome, heart, disease and kidney disorders. In addition, Alcohol abuse is a leading risk factor in contracting mouth, esophagus, pharynx, larynx, liver and breast cancer.

Alcohol Treatment & Recovery

Treatment for alcohol addiction can be delivered in many forms and in a variety of environments. Alcohol addiction is often complex and the treatment can involve many components. Some of those factors concentrate specifically on the individual’s alcohol use; others, like employment training, emphasize the restoration of the addicted individual to a productive role in society.

The United States has more than 14, 0 00 specialized drug treatment facilities that offer services to alcoholics.

Long-Term Residential Treatment

Long-term residential treatment provides care 24 on a 24-hour basis. One often-used treatment model is the therapeutic community (TC), which typically takes between 6 and 12 months. TC is a community-based approach that utilizes other residents and staff and the social environment. Alcoholism is looked at in the context of an individual’s social and psychological problems and treatment focuses on developing personal responsibility and socially productive lives.

Treatment involves activities designed to help residents examine harmful beliefs and destructive patterns of behavior and adopt more constructive ways to interact with others.

Short-Term Residential Treatment

Short-term residential programs provide the brief, but intensive treatment based on a modified 12-step approach. The favorite model consists of a 3- to 6-week hospital-based inpatient treatment. This is followed by extended outpatient therapy and participation in a self-help group, such as AA.

Outpatient Treatment Programs

Outpatient treatment programs use a variety of approaches and are less expensive than inpatient treatment and are more suitable for people with jobs or extensive social support. Other outpatient models, such as intensive day treatment, are usually comparable to residential programs in services and effectiveness.

Individualized Counseling & Therapy

Individualized drug counseling not only focuses on reducing or stopping alcohol use; it also addresses related areas of impaired functioning—such as employment status, illegal activity, and family/social relations.

Individualized counseling helps the patient develop coping strategies to help him refrain from the use of alcohol. The counselor encourages 12-step participation and makes referrals for needed supplemental medical, psychiatric, employment, and other services.

Group Counseling

Many programs use group therapy to take advantage of the social reinforcement offered by peer discussion and to help promote alcohol and drug-free lifestyles. Research has shown that group therapy offered in conjunction with an individualized drug counseling program promotes a positive outcome.

Quit Drinking for Good & Get Sober at Los Angeles Alcohol Rehab

Recovery is difficult and often depends on the individual patient’s characteristics and needs, but it is by no means impossible. It only takes a few steps and leads to a vast improvement in a person’s life, self-concept, health, and productivity.

Launch Centers provides clients with a dual-diagnosis treatment program, which focuses on treating both substance abuse, and any co-occurring mental illness that can become a barrier to successful recovery from alcoholism. Contact us today to learn more about our innovative alcohol treatment program in Los Angeles.